ECPAT UK is to open a National Training Centre in central London, offering a range of comprehensive training courses and seminars essential for all practitioners working with children. The National Training Centre will open on the 5 September at its base in Victoria, London. It will offer a training programme that will support and develop good practice in safeguarding children.

Training is based on up-to-date research and evidence, such as case law, the experiences of children, government guidance and legislation. Courses will include:

-    Safeguarding Children: an Introduction to Child Trafficking
-    Safeguarding Children: an Advanced course on Child Trafficking
-    The Trafficked Children Toolkit, developed by the London Safeguarding Children Board

Also available will be thematic seminars on a range of issues, including risks assessments, private fostering and children’s rights, and bespoke sessions on topics such as creative therapy, and the impact of abuse and trauma.

Training will be coordinated by ECPAT UK’s training manager, Karen Sizeland – a qualified social worker, trainer and children’s advocate. She has wide experience of working child protection, including: in a local authority Children and Families Team; as a child protection officer at the NSPCC; as a freelance advocate for two national children’s charities; and as a training manager for an independent fostering agency.

“The National Training Centre is an exciting new development for ECPAT UK,” said Karen. “Any professional working with children and young people will be able to access an event where they can meet colleagues and share good practice.”

Alongside Karen, ECPAT UK’s project officer, Kalvir Kaur – a solicitor of nine years’ post-qualification experience – will also deliver training. Kalvir has extensive experience with separated children and victims of trafficking, and is an experienced trainer, having delivered training to legal representatives and NGOs. Her abilities were recognised when, in 2008, she received the Immigration Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year award. 

Kalvir is renowned for her ability to effectively interview child victims of trafficking and is an advisory member of the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA) Refugee Children’s Project, a trainer for the ILPA and co-author of ‘Working with refugee children: current issues in best practice’, which was published in May 2011.

The National Training Centre builds upon ECPAT UK’s existing reputation as the leading provider of professional training on issues surrounding child trafficking, with the charity having trained more than 3,000 multi-agency practitioners since it was established in 1994, including ABTA – The Travel Association, community groups, private sector bodies, NGOs and local authorities.

A number of Local Safeguarding Children Boards commission training on a rolling basis, which endorses the standard and quality of ECPAT UK’s training services.

For more information on ECPAT UK training, please call 020 7233 9887, email training@ecpat.org.uk or visit ECPAT UK Training.

PRESS CONTACT
Christine Beddoe, Director, ECPAT UK
Tel: 07906 341 889 or 020 7233 9887

Notes to the Editor
-    ECPAT UK (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes) is a leading UK children’s rights organisation. ECPAT UK works with the highest levels of government, but also reaches out to practitioners and those working directly with children through research, training and capacity building
-    The ECPAT UK National Training Centre is located at Grosvenor Gardens House, 35-37 Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1W 0BS (two minutes’ walk from Victoria underground, train and/or coach station)